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One current player and five incoming freshmen to the Michigan hockey program were selected in the NHL draft Friday and Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.

Defenseman Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe), who was the youngest player in college hockey last season at 17, was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

Incoming freshman forward Kyle Connor (Shelby Township), who played for Youngstown (USHL) last season, was selected 13th overall Friday by the Winnipeg Jets. (The Jets have been drafting U-M players in recent years, including defenseman Jacob Trouba and forward Andrew Copp.)

Michigan associate head coach Billy Powers attended the draft and said it was exciting for all of the players to attend and hear their names called.

Powers said he hasn't spoken to anyone from the Blue Jackets but said his "gut feeling would be that" Werenski would return for his sophomore year. Powers said all of the incoming freshmen should be key contributors for U-M next year.

"He's gotta get stronger, and he will obviously," Powers said. "He's got high-end offensive ability. He will eventually be a top-two centerman at Michigan. He'd center our third line for sure next year."

Muskegon (USHL) defenseman Joseph Cecconi, was selected in the fifth round (133rd overall) by the Stars. And defenseman Nick Boka (Plymouth), who played for the U.S. Under-18 program last season, was selected in the sixth round (171st overall) by the Wild.

Cecconi and Boka probably won't make the offensive impact that Werenski did last season, but they will help the team defensively.

"Cecconi is a stay-at-home, top penalty killer guy," Powers said. "Uses his stick, but he's enormous on the ice. It's more his wingspan."

"He's mean and he can skate. He not only looks for hits but he can really easily get to them. He's going to be a nasty, physical defender for us."

Michigan wasn't the only college from the state to contribute to the NHL draft.

Western Michigan forward Frederik Tiffels was selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Center Mason Appleton, an incoming freshman at MSU, was selected in the sixth round by Winnipeg. Michigan Tech forward Matt Roy (Canton) was selected in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings.